Forensic Accounting Degree Programs

A forensic accounting degree can lead you to a thrilling career in which your role is part accountant and part detective.

Financial scandals have been making headlines more often over the past two decades. As a result, there is a growing demand for the services provided by forensic accountants. They are the criminal investigators of the financial world. So, exactly, what is forensic accounting anyway?

Forensic accounting is a field in which an accountant investigates financial records in order to detect criminal activity. However, the typical forensic accounting definition also includes litigation support, which means that forensic accountants can assist with settling disputes pertaining to matters like bankruptcy claims and breached contracts.

These matters are often extremely complicated, which is why forensic accountants require specialized knowledge and skills. So by earning a degree, you can learn how to recognize, solve, and properly document financial crimes. Discover the forensic accounting degree programs that are offered near you by entering your zip code below!

A Forensic Accounting Degree: Why You Should Earn One

Financial criminal activity almost brought down Wall Street in 2008, and the widespread fraud that was uncovered had a significant negative impact on the global economy for several years afterward. It also devastated many American families, businesses, and entire industries. And this was just one of numerous large financial scandals over recent years. You have likely heard of other financial crimes associated with Enron, WorldCom, and Bernie Madoff, just to name a few past offenders.

The schemes by the wrongdoers mentioned above were all large-scale frauds, but financial and accounting fraud happens on a smaller scale more often than you probably realize. In fact, a 2016 study found that, of the 328 U.S. businesses surveyed, 38 percent of them had experienced some form of fraud over the previous two years. Of the types of fraud reported, 55 percent was asset misappropriation, 54 percent was cybercrime, 15 percent was money laundering, and 14 percent was bribery and corruption.*

Further to that, a 2016 global fraud study found that the average organization loses five percent of its revenue every year due to fraud. Of the 2,410 fraud cases that were analyzed, the total losses amounted to more than $6.3 billion. More than 23 percent of occupational fraud cases resulted in a loss of at least one million dollars. The study also found that asset misappropriation was the most common form of fraud and that, although financial statement fraud was far less common, it resulted in far bigger losses. The median loss was $975,000 per crime, whereas asset misappropriation resulted in a median loss of $125,000.**

These studies highlight the importance of, and need for, forensic accounting professionals. Economic fraud can be devastating to hundreds of individuals inside and outside of the organizations in which the fraud takes place. And, as seen in 2008, it can cause national and even global economic crises. By earning a forensic accounting degree, you can prepare to join this increasingly important vocational field.

Forensic accounting schools can equip you with the accounting, auditing, and investigative skills needed to take part in criminal investigations. And you can learn how to offer litigation support, which occurs when you help a party, or parties, quantify economic damages prior to, or during, a legal proceeding. This could pertain to legal matters such as divorce, bankruptcy, and contract disputes.

As a forensic accountant, you could expect to track funds and identify assets. You will complete a thorough forensic analysis of financial data, which could include anything from documents and records pertaining to mergers and acquisitions to venture capital investments to stocks and bonds purchases. Once your investigation is complete, you will prepare a report of your findings, which could be used for legal and court proceedings. You may even be called as an expert witness during a trial.

Forensic accountants can also help organizations take preventative measures. You could help design accounting and auditing systems and implement procedures that help an organization reduce and manage the risk associated with economic fraud. So you can see that this career field is as interesting as it is essential. The country needs aspiring professionals like you to help keep organizations free from financial crime.

So are you feeling intrigued? Well, continue reading to discover even more reasons why earning a forensic accounting degree could be a great choice for you!

1. There Are Many Good-Quality Forensic Accounting Programs to Choose From

In determining how to become a forensic accountant, you will see that education is your first, and probably most important, step. Most forensic accounting schools offer bachelor's degrees since that is the industry standard for the minimum required education needed to enter the field. A typical bachelor's degree program takes approximately three to four years to complete, and many institutions offer on-campus and online options. This can provide you with some flexibility in your scheduling and enable you to find a program that works with your lifestyle and current commitments.

If you already hold a bachelor's degree or want to earn a more general finance or accounting degree to start with, then you could go on to earn a post-baccalaureate forensic accounting certificate or a Master of Accounting degree that includes forensic accounting as a concentration. These options can also help you get on the path to a forensic accounting career.

Depending on your program choice, you can expect to learn about business essentials pertaining to the areas of management, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Once your base knowledge has been established, you will start learning about accounting-specific topics, which could include the following:

Payroll accounting

Cost accounting

Tax accounting

Budgeting

Auditing

Control systems

Fraud examination

Financial analysis

White-collar crime

Criminal investigation

Intelligence gathering

Computer forensics

Forensic psychology

A forensic accounting degree program could also begin preparing you for important industry certifications. Although these certifications are not mandated, many organizations require them. So if you have specific credentials in mind, then you will want to be sure that any program you choose will meet the education requirements for your desired certification.

2. There Are Forensic Accounting Certification Options That Can Help Enhance Your Career

The people who commit economic crimes put a great deal of effort into covering up their activities. By obtaining additional industry certifications, you are showing potential employers that you possess the specialized knowledge needed to analyze data on a deep level in order to uncover complicated financial schemes.

There are multiple forensic accounting certifications available, but the two most common are the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credentials. Both of these designations require you to become a certified public accountant (CPA) first. Here is a basic breakdown of the process to acquire each certification:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

The State Board of Accountancy within your specific state administers this certification.

You must complete an approved accounting program. This usually requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree. However, the requirements vary between states, and you may require additional training hours beyond a bachelor's degree.

Once you have met the education requirements, you must take a four-part exam. Each part can be completed individually. Some states may also require you to complete an ethics exam.

You will also have to obtain professional experience. Again, this can vary between states, but you may be required to have one to two years of relevant work experience.

Once you have achieved the education, exam, and experience requirements, you can receive your CPA license.

Your license will need to be renewed. It is typically required every three years, and you will need to complete a predetermined amount of continuing education hours within that time.

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

The CFE certification is administered through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

You need to meet the education and professional experience requirements. Typically, you will need to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and two years of relevant work experience, along with a valid CPA license.

You also need to be an ACFE member in good standing.

You can prepare for the CFE exam by taking the self-study exam prep and review courses.

When you submit your exam application, you will need to include proof of your education, as well as three professional recommendations.

Upon passing the exam, the certification committee will review your entire application. Once approved, you will be an official CFE.

To retain your designation, you must pay an annual membership fee and complete 20 hours of continuing education every year.

Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

This credential is granted by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)

You must currently hold a valid CPA license.

You will need to pass the CFF exam.

Upon completing the exam, you will also have to show that you have met the necessary work experience and education requirements. These include 1,000 hours of forensic accounting experience and 75 hours of forensic accounting education.

Once you have received your CFF credential, you will need to maintain your membership with the AICPA, pay an annual renewal fee, maintain your CPA designation, and complete 60 hours of continuing education every three years in order to keep your CFF designation valid.

Along with helping to increase your job opportunities, these certifications can also bring you better-paying career possibilities. For example, an industry study found that those with a CFE credential earned a 23-percent higher forensic accountant salary than those who were not certified.**

3. The Work Is Often Fascinating and Fulfilling

You are not just an accountant working with numbers; you are a criminal investigator, and this can lead to exciting and intriguing work alongside other legal and law enforcement professionals. Each case is different, and the work can sometimes be unpredictable, which means that it is seldom boring and monotonous. You could find yourself working on money laundering or tax evasion cases. You could be working to uncover hidden assets or investigating falsified documents (which are elements of criminal practices that are often referred to as "cooking the books"). You could also be involved in:

Shareholder disputes

Injury claims

Insurance claims

Business or employee fraud investigations

Marital disputes

Professional negligence cases

You may also be involved with organized crime cases in which you help the government find and recover illegally obtained money. Even the FBI hires forensic accountants. They are involved in tracking the financial misdeeds of criminals, terrorists, and spies. FBI forensic accountants have played a part in investigating fraud cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars.

As a forensic accountant, you will often be called on as an expert witness to present your findings and testify during court proceedings. No matter where you are employed, you can expect to be conducting important work that protects citizens, organizations, the government, and even the overall economy.

4. The Earning Potential Is Exceptional

The Bureau of Labor Statistics includes forensic accountants within the accountants and auditors occupational category. As of 2016, the reported annual salary range for this group was $42,140 to $120,910 and higher. And while the national average salary is $76,730 per year, the regions and states of New York, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Virginia, and California offer higher-than-average paying jobs. The average salary in these areas ranges from $82,620 to $93,280 per year.***

That being said, a 2015-2016 industry report found that forensic accountants typically earn higher annual salaries than accountants who do not specialize in forensics. Those who were CFE-certified earned a median salary of $105,000, whereas those who were not certified earned a forensic accounting salary of $90,634.**

5. There Are Good Job Opportunities Available

As mentioned above, the growing concern over curbing economic fraud is increasing the demand for forensic accountants. Legislation, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, has furthered this demand. The government has enacted these measures to help protect investors, improve financial reporting, and prevent accounting fraud. So this means that more organizations are seeking the services of forensic accountants to protect themselves as well as their shareholders, investors, and employees.

Overall, accountant and auditor jobs are projected to grow in number by 10 percent in the ten-year period from 2016 to 2026. That amounts to approximately 140,300 jobs. However, industries that are closely associated with forensic accounting activities are also expected to experience growth. For example, the securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities sector is expecting 19-percent job growth for accountants. And employment of accountants in the funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles sector is estimated to grow by more than 14 percent.****

Forensic accounting job opportunities can be found within organizations of almost any size in a variety of industries. Some places that you may be able to begin your career include:

Accounting firms

Government agencies

Consulting firms

Law firms

Law enforcement agencies

Insurance companies

Financial institutions

Large corporations

6. Forensic Accounting Programs Can Often Prepare You for Other Career Paths

One of the benefits of earning a forensic accounting degree is that your education can prepare you for several other vocational paths. If at any point throughout your career you decide that you need a change, then you will be happy to know that you have options. Look at some of the other positions—along with their average annual salaries as of 2016—that you could consider:***

Financial manager—$139,720

Business manager—$122,090

Personal financial adviser—$123,100

Financial analyst—$97,640

Management analyst—$91,910

Financial examiner—$88,940

Credit analyst—$81,160

Tax examiner—$57,950

Bookkeeper, or accounting or auditing clerk—$40,220

Get Ready to Follow the Money

Are you ready to start holding white-collar criminals accountable for their actions? Then take steps today to make that happen. Find a forensic accounting degree program in your area by entering your zip code into the search tool below. An impressive career as a financial crimes investigator might await you!